Around Pasadena: High Point Elementary community ready for renovated school

Atalie Day Brown/Correspondent

High Point Elementary School Principal Timothy Merritt examines the construction progress at his school, in Pasadena, on May 8. The school will undergo renovations until August 2019.

High Point Elementary School Principal Timothy Merritt examines the construction progress at his school, in Pasadena, on May 8. The school will undergo renovations until August 2019. (Atalie Day Brown/Correspondent)

While Principal Timothy Merritt was home recovering from knee replacement surgery, he received a phone call that raised his spirits.

One of the secretaries from High Point Elementary School called to inform him that preliminary construction had begun on the school grounds.

"That (phone call) was exciting," he said.

Phase one of construction is taking place behind the school. After hauling in tons of dirt, workers are now grading the ground for the future two-story academic addition, while laying the foundation for sewer and water.

This undertaking is eight years in the making; the school has been over-capacity for nearly a decade. When the school was constructed in 1975, Pasadena was less populated. Managing a school that is almost 130 students over-capacity has had its challenges, Merritt said.

Photos of the people and places as featured in the "Pasadena" column in the Maryland Gazette.

For example, on Monday while a portable classroom was undergoing air conditioning repairs, the class had to relocate to the media center, which in turn, moved media classes to the cafeteria. When the modernization of High Point is complete in August 2019, if a situation like this arises, students will have a spare classroom to move into.

The school's modernization will take place over the next two years in three phases. Included in phase one are renovations to the art area and gymnasium. Furthermore, the kitchen, cafeteria, and music room will receive additions, as well as the academic addition, which will be constructed with a courtyard at its center. Phase one is expected to be complete by August 2018.

Merritt is eager for his school to be modernized. He says students tend to learn better with natural lighting, an element missing from many of the school's existing classrooms. The courtyard will also feature an elevated area, giving the space opportunities for outdoor learning and educational assemblies.

Each of the school's classrooms will have four walls, doing away with the open-concept plan of the current building.

"Open-space has been a great challenge for us," he said.

The modernized school will also have the latest learning technology.

Merritt is excited about new space allocated for the gym and cafeteria, as they will no longer share a space. The school will also receive a health suite with privacy and waiting rooms, as well as a nurse's office.

Following a feasibility study, architects chose to modernize the school, instead of a total replacement, in part because the grounds were not large enough to construct a new school on them without first demolishing the existing school. If a replacement had been issued, students and faculty would've been moved to Chesapeake Bay Middle School during construction.

With modernization, a percentage of the original school is incorporated and construction is conducted over an extended period of time through different phases.

Students attending the 2018-19 school year will be the first class to enjoy the newly constructed, two-story academic addition. When the school body occupies the new addition, phase two will be underway.

Phase two includes a new administration suite, renovations making the existing kitchen into a before-and-after care addition and restoration of the existing music room.

The final phase will begin in April 2019. During this phase, the media center and the early education corridor and resource room will be upgraded. The total estimated cost of the project is $40.5 million.

Merritt said, "my biggest excitement is for the children to be in a stimulating learning environment."

Merritt credits his community's patience for the school's eventual modernization. He also believes a past student named Jayden Shifflett helped to open the eyes of the school board. She testified in front of the board in third, fourth and fifth grades.

"I think that did awaken the council," he said.

Mother's Day vendor show

Riviera Beach Fire Company, 61 Ritchie Hwy., will host a craft and vendor show in honor of Mother's Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

An American Red Cross blood drive will be held 1:30-7 p.m. on May 15 at Galilee Lutheran Church, 4652 Mountain Road.

Persons willing to donate blood can go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Galilee's zip code, 21122, to register online or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Parking is in the lot behind the church, with the drive set up in the church's fellowship hall. Members of Galilee's Human Care Ministry Team are sponsoring the drive.

For more information, call 410-255-8236.

All-night bingo

The Orchard Beach VFD is hosting an all-night bingo on May 20. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., games start at 7:30 p.m. and end around 5 a.m.

Cost is $30 for 70 games; each player must purchase a package. Plus, $5 for additional paper. Also being sold are four quickie games and split-the-pot specials. No checks accepted. Breakfast and drinks included with package purchase.

There will also be homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, peas and carrots, cucumber and onion salad, corn bread, as well as assorted desserts and drinks.

This all-you-can-eat dinner is $13 per person. For more information, call Virginia Heil at 410-255-5733.

Carnival

Advance Ride All Night Tickets for Monday through Thursday at the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company Carnival (May 15-18) are on sale until 6 p.m. Sunday night. Cost is $12 in advance or $25 purchased at the carnival.

The carnival starts May 15 and closes on May 20. The parade will be today at 5 p.m.